Cosmic wonder and fates collide when a father, his son and lover are left stranded after a car accident. “The Child and the Dead,” directed by Marc Ripper and Karina Lomelin Ripper, is a slow-burn thriller set in the Pacific Northwest that delivers potent tension from an evolving mystery and eerily quiet setting. We pick up after the accident — the Volvo Station wagon is totaled and the father goes for help, leaving his son alone with his new girlfriend. She attempts to fill the time by introducing the boy to astrology but he’s more interested in his kaleidoscope toy and eventually wanders off. What at first looked like a simple car accident unfolds into an elaborate puzzle, all three participants stumbling onto disturbing new pieces. Beautifully shot and edited, the film uses its scenic setting to dive deep into a vivid darkness full of unknowns. -KA. Writers/Directors: Marc Ripper, Karina Lomelin Ripper. Cast: Brighid Thomas, Daniel Hill, Henry Griffes, Jimmy Lee Jr. Director of Photography: Will Walle. Producer: Jake Rossman. Art Directors: Melissa DiMartino, Eric Ahlstrom.